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Smoke from the Ham Lake forest fire in the Arrowhead region of northern Minnesota is spreading across the region. A forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen says that a cold front that went through the area last night is to blame. "The cold front brought with it northerly winds which is pushing the smoke south," said Karen Trammel. Trammel said that the smoke is causing reduced visibility as far east as Wausau and Marshfield in Wisconsin.

A 36-year-old St. Peter woman has been named as the victim in a Thursday afternoon accident on Highway 35 in Pepin County, Wis. At around 2:30 p.m. Katie Rogers-Phillips was southbound on Highway 35 when she lost control of the 2005 Buick LeSabre she was driving, according to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department. The vehicle crashed through the guardrail and then overturned several times as it rolled down the steep embankment. Roger-Phillips was ejected from the vehicle and was declared dead at the scene by Christy Rundquist, the deputy Pepin County corner.

ST. PAUL -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a $334 million public works construction package today, telling leaders of the DFL-controlled Legislature the bill is "simply too large." "I have repeatedly communicated my expectations about the timing and the composition of the bill," Pawlenty wrote to House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis.

ST. PAUL - No single public safety issue has gripped Minnesota lawmakers this legislative session, but they are poised to approve $2 billion in spending on courts, the corrections system and anti-crime measures. A conference committee of House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on a public safety and judiciary finance bill that would spend about $1.8 billion from the state's general fund during the two-year budget period beginning July 1. The state budget could hit $35 billion. Both the House and Senate were planning to give the bill final approval today before sending it to Gov.